Container body flanging apparatus and method



G. KRAUS 3,266,451 CONTAIQER BODY FLANGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Aug. 16,1966 Filed June 26. 1963 FIG-3 INVENTOR. RAUS sumo K BY /4 I /4 1 HISATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,266,451 CONTAINER BODY FLANGINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD Guido Krau's, Chesterfield County, Va., assignor toReyn- 'olds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of DelawareFiled June 26, 1963, Ser. No. 290,775 Claims. (Cl. 113120) attaching acover member to the container body to close a desired product within thecontainer body and complete the container construction.

In the past, such flanging method and apparatus have comprised means forjamming a tapered cone or the like into the opened end of the can tostretch the metal at the opened end thereof to form the desiredoutwardly directedperipheral flange at the open end of the containerbody.

Howevenit has been found that suchprior known flanging means not onlytends to crack the resulting flange during the stretching of the metal,but also such prior (known flanging means produces container bodieshaving .random heights as no means can assure a uniform depth ofinsertion of the tapered cone within the container bodies.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, an. improvedmethod and apparatus for flanging a con- .tainer body or the like isprovided wherein cracked flanges are eliminated and a closer tolerancecan be maintained to produce uniform heights of the flanged containerbodies. I

In particular, one embodiment of this invention comprises means forspinning the flange on the open end of the container body, whereby auniform working of the metal of the container body is provided byseveral passes of spinning means of this invention so that rupture ofthe metal of the container body is substantially reduced or completelyeliminated.

In addition, the flanging means of this invention can be accuratelycontrolled so that the flanged container bodies will :have uniformheights.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmethod for flanging an open end of a container body or the like, themethod of this invention having one or more of the novel features ofthis invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

-Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatusfor flan gin-g an open end of a container body or the like, theapparatus of this invention having one or more of the novel features ofthis invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

-' FIGURE 1 is a schematic end view illustrating a typi.

cal application of the'apparatus and method of this in- FIGURE 2 is anenlarged, fragmentary, partial cross- 7 sectional view taken on line2--2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, illustrating the apparatus ofthis invention in another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable to flange an open end ofa container body or the like, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combinationthereof to provide means for operating on any desired article.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an apparatus is generally indicated by thereference numeral 10 and is utilized for performing various operationson a container body or the like, as indicated by the reference numeral11 in FIGURES 2 and 3,

In particular, the apparatus 10 includes a frame structure 12 supportinga star wheel 13 or the like formed of three plates '14, FIGURES 2 and 3,disposed spaced from each other and rotatable relative to the framemeans 12 about an axis of rotation 15, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, theplates 14 respectively having a plurality of container body receivingnotches 16 formed in the outer periphery thereof.

The star wheel 13 is adapted to be indexed in a clockwise direction, asillustrated in FIGURE 1, to receive a formed container body at thestation 17 thereof and sequentially carry that particular container body11 through the stations 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, whereby thecompleted container body 11 of this invention is ejected into a hopper25 as the particular can receiving notch 16 of the star wheel 13 passesbetween the station 24 and the next station 25.

Since the star wheel 13 momentarily pauses at each station, suitableapparatus can be provided at that particular station for operating onthe can body '11 while the star wheel 13 is stationary.

For example, when the container body 11 is indexed to the station 20,the open end 27 of the container body 11 can be suitably trimmed toremove the ragged edge thereof and to form the container body 11 with adesired height.

Similarly, when the star wheel 13 indexes the particular container body1 1 to the station 21, further trimming and/or deburring of the open end27 of the container body 11 can take place by suitable apparatus.

When the particular container body 11 is indexed by the star wheel 13 tothe station 22, the open end 27 of the container body 11 is flanged bythe apparatus and method of this invention, which will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURES 2-4, the flanging apparatus and method of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 28 andcomprises a head 29 that is adapted to be rotated and axially moved inany suitable manner.

For example, the head 29 can be interconnected to a splined shaft 30received in a splined bore 31 of a driving gear 32 rotatably mounted inthe frame means 12 by suitable bearing means 33. Thus, upon rotation ofthe gear 32 by suitable power mean-s, the gear 32 causes likerotation'of the head 29 about an axis of rotation corresponding to theaxis of rotation of the splined shaft 30.

In order to cause axial movement of the rotating head 29, a suitable camoperated or hydraulically operated ram 34 is operatively interconnectedto the end 35 of the splined shaft 30 and can be actuated by the cammeans, hydraulic means or other suitable actuator to cause axialmovement of the splined shaft 30 relative to the gear 32,

whereby the head 29 can be moved toward and away from the container body11, while the head 29 is continuously rotated for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The head 29 rotatably carries one or more rollers 36 respectively havingbeveled flanging surfaces 37 for a purpose hereinafter described. Eachroller 36 has a stub shaft 38 rotatably received in bearing means 39carried by the head 29 and detachably secured therein by fastening means40, whereby each roller 36 is adapted to rotate independently about theaxis of rotation of its stub shaft 38 while the head 29 is rotatingabout its axis for a purpose hereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the rollers 36 are adapted to be orbitedabout a circular path as the head 29 rotates while the rollers 36 areadapted to rotate about their own axes.

A container body centering member 41 is rotatably carried on aprojecting portion 42 of the head 29 by suitable bearing means 43, thecentering member 41 having a beveled leading surface 44 to readilyenable the centering member 41 to be received in the open end 27 of thecontainer body 11 in a manner hereinafter described.

A support member 45 is carried by the frame means 12 of the apparatus ofFIGURE 1 and is disposed spaced from the head 29 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the support member 45 having a pocketportion 46 to receive the closed end 47 of the container body 11 in themanner illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The pocket defining surface 48 of the support member 45 is interruptedby a passage means 49 to be interconnected to a suitable vacuum sourceby conduit means 50, whereby the container body 11 is adapted to be heldtightly against the surface 48 of the support member 45 when a vacuum isimposed on the passage means 49 to not only support the container body11 relative to the head 29 but also to tend to prevent rotationalmovement of the container body 11 through its frictional engagement withthe surface 48 of the support member 45 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The operation of the method and apparatus 28 of this invention will nowbe described.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the head 29 of the apparatus 28 is normallydisposed in its left-hand position a sufficient distance from thesupport member 45 to permit the star wheel 13 to index in a clockwisedirection in FIGURE 1 and bring a particular container body 11 betweenthe head 29 and the support member 45, whereby the star wheel 13 remainsstationary in this position until the apparatus 28 has performed itsflanging function.

After the container body 11 has been disposed in the positionillustrated in FIGURE 2, suitable mechanism causes the ram 34 to axiallymove the rotating head 29 to the right in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 3, whereby the container body centering member 41 of the head 29is telescopically received in the open end 27 of the container body 11to positively align the container body 11 relative to the rollers 36.

As the head 29 continues to moveto the right, the same compacts thecontainer body 11 against the surface 48 of the support member 45,whereby a vacuum can be imposed in the passage means 49 to tightly holdthe container body 11 against the surface 48 thereof and tend to preventrotational movement of the container body 11 relative to the supportmember 45.

As the head 29 axially advances to the right, the rotating head 29causes the beveled surfaces 37 of the rollers 36 thereof to be partiallyreceived in the open end 27 of the container body 11, whereby additionaladvancement of the head 29 to the right causes the rollers 36 toprogressively spin an outwardly directed flange 51 on the open end 27 ofthe cotainer body 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The axial advancement of the head 29 to the right is terminated by thestopping of movement of the ram 34 to the right, whereby the degree offlanging of the container body 11 is held within desired tolerances sothat the flanges 51 of the container bodies 11 are substantially uniformand the resulting container bodies 11 have substantially uniformheights.

While the head 29 can have one or more rollers 36 and can be orbited atanysuitable rotational speed, the embodiment of the head 29 illustratedin the drawings utilizes four rollers 36 and is rotated at approximately1,800 to 2,000 rpm.

As the head 29 rotates to cause the rollers 36 to spin the outwardflange 51 on the container body 11, it can be seen that the rollers 36are adapted to respectively rotate about their own axes, which aredisposed spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation of the head29.

After the head 29 has been axially moved to the right to the desireddegree to perform the above described flanging operation, the ram 34 ismove-d back to the left to carry the rotating head 29 therewith untilthe head 29 is again disposed in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 2.I

At the same time or in any desired sequence therewith, the communicationbetween the passage means 49 of the support member 45 and the vacuumsource is terminated, whereby the container body 11 is free to moverelative to the support member 45 when the star wheel 13 is againindexed in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 1 to move that completedcontainer body 11 to the station 23 and bring another container body 11to the apparatus 28.

While the support member 45 has been described and illustrated as beinga stationary member, it is to be understood that the same can be axiallymovable toward and away from the head 29 in substantially the samemanner that the head 29 is axially moved if desired. In this manner, thehead 29 could be fixed from axial movement and the support member 45could cause the relative movement between the container body 11 and thehead 29 to perform the fianging operation in the manner previouslydescribed. Also, an axial-1y movable support member 45 could be utilizedin combination with the axially movable head 29 is desired.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improvedmethod and apparatus for flanging an open end of a container body or thelike, the method and apparatus of this invention providing the hangingoperation in a simple andnon-time consumingmanner to prevent cracks inthe resulting flanges and to maintain a substantially uniform height ofthe container bodies.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for fianging an open end of a container body or the likecomprising a rotatable and axially movable head carrying at least oneroller rotatably mounted to said head about an axis of rotation disposedspaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation of said head, saidroller having an annular and beveled fianging surface, said headrotatably carrying a container body centering member to be received insaid open end of said container body to align said container bodyrelative to said roller, a support member spaced from said head to beengaged by the other end of said container body to hold the same frommovement relative to said head, means for rotating said head, and meansfor axially moving said rotating head toward said container body tocause said roller to flange said open end of said container body.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said roller is at leastpartially received in said open end of said container body to form anoutward flange on said container body.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein means is provided tointroduce said container body between said head and said support member.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein vacuum means is provided tohold said container body against said support member.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head has a boretherein, bearing means disposed in said bore, and shaft means carried bysaid roller andbeing received in said bearing means to rotatably mountsaid roller to said head. I

6. A method for flanging an open end of a container body or the likecomprising the steps of providing a rotatable and axially movable headhaving at least one roller rotatably mounted thereto about an axis ofrotation disposed spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation ofsaid head, said roller having a flanging surface, providing a containerbody centering member that is rotatably mounted to said head, disposingthe other end of said container body against a support member disposedspaced from said head, rotating said head, and axially moving saidrotating head toward said container body to cause said centering memberto be received in said open end of said container body to align saidcontainer body relative to said roller and to cause said roller toflange said open end of said container body.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said roller is at leastpartially received in said open end of said container body to form anoutward flange on said container body.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6 and including the step ofintroducing said container body between said head and said supportmember.

9. A method as set forth in claim 6 and including the step of holdingsaid container body against said support member by vacuum means.

10. A method as set forth in claim 6 and including the steps ofproviding a bore in said head, disposing bearing means in said bore, anddisposing a shaft of said roller in said bearing means to rotatablymount said roller to said head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,408 5/1893Roth 214-1 983,278 2/1911 Hartlove 72393 1,041,028 10/1912 Church 214-11,943,483 1/1934 Miller 2141 2,687,163 8/1954 Smith 72-110 3,011,539 12/1961 Henrickson 72-117 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner.

6. A METHOD FOR FLANGING AN OPEN END OF A CONTAINER BODY OR THE LIKECOMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A ROTATABLE AND AXIALLY MOVABLE HEADHAVING AT LEAST ONE ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED THERETO ABOVE AN AXIS OFROTATION DISPOSED SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OFSAID HEAD, SAID ROLLER HAVING A FLANGING SURFACE, PROVIDING A CONTAINERBODY CENTERING MEMBER THAT IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED TO SAID HEAD, DISPOSINGTHE OTHER END OF SAID CONTAINER BODY AGAINST A SUPPORT MEMBER DISPOSEDSPACED FROM SAID HEAD, ROTATING SAID HEAD, AND AXIALLY MOVING SAIDROTATING HEAD TOWARD SAID CONTAINER BODY TO CAUSE SAID CENTERING MEMBERTO BE RECEIVED IN SAID OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER BODY TO ALIGN SAIDCONTAINER BODY RELATIVE TO SAID ROLLER AND TO CAUSE SAID ROLLER TOFLANGE SAID OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER BODY.